Spirit Airlines ceased operations at 3 a.m. Saturday after last-ditch efforts to secure a government bailout failed, bringing an abrupt end to more than three decades of low-cost air travel. The shutdown stranded passengers worldwide and left more than 17,000 direct and indirect employees without jobs.

In the final hours Friday, travelers continued boarding flights unaware the airline was preparing to close.

As operations wound down, the airline canceled international routes to avoid leaving crews and planes overseas, and still carried more than 50,000 passengers in its final full day.

Negotiations collapsed after bondholders rejected a proposed bailout from the Trump administration worth up to $500 million. The plan would have given the federal government a dominant stake in the airline and priority over other creditors.

By early Saturday, Spirit’s website and app displayed a stark message: “To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available.”

Airports that once bustled with the airline’s signature yellow branding fell quiet within hours. Terminals emptied, kiosks shut down, and employees were sent home early as operations ceased worldwide.

Other carriers, including United, American, Southwest, JetBlue, and Frontier, moved quickly to accommodate stranded passengers, capping fares and adding flights. United alone said roughly 14,000 Spirit customers rebooked with the airline on Saturday.

For flight crews, the shutdown created chaotic and emotional scenes. One captain, Jon Jackson, missed his scheduled retirement flight and instead flew home on another airline, where he was greeted with a water cannon salute and applause upon arrival.

Spirit’s downfall followed years of mounting financial strain. Though profitable in the 2010s, the airline had not turned a profit since 2019. It faced fierce competition from larger carriers, rising costs, a blocked merger attempt, aircraft engine issues, and surging fuel prices tied to the war in Iran.

The company had also filed for bankruptcy twice in recent years, with analysts saying it failed to make deep enough structural changes to survive.

Labor leaders warned the impact would fall heavily on workers rather than executives. “The pain of this decision will not be felt in boardrooms. It will be felt by pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, and ground crews, and by the families and communities that depend on them,” said Air Line Pilots Association president Jason Ambrosi.

Union officials are now pushing for compensation and federal support for displaced workers. “Standard unemployment coverage does not replace full wages, and this enhanced support would help stabilize households while workers secure new employment,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants.

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is facing criticism following the shutdown, with opponents arguing her support for blocking the JetBlue-Spirit merger may have contributed to the airline’s collapse. Warren had praised regulators in 2024 for stopping the deal, warning it would reduce competition and raise fares, but critics now say the failed merger weakened Spirit’s chances of survival. Warren defended her position after the shutdown, blaming rising fuel costs and broader economic pressures, while others, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, argued the merger should have been allowed to preserve competition.

Despite its struggles, Spirit maintained a loyal customer base drawn to its ultra-low fares. Industry analysts described it as a pioneer of discount travel, even as it became known for bare-bones service and frequent criticism.

In its final moments, the airline’s end played out in real time over radio transmissions and internal messages. As one American Airlines employee told a Spirit crew: “Good luck to you all,” adding, “Sorry to hear what happened.”

On one of the final flights, a pilot asked air traffic control if any other Spirit planes were still inbound.

“I don’t see anything,” the controller replied. “So you might be the last one.”